Newly appointed JACRA Director General Everett Hyatt is targeting annual growth of up to 30 per cent for the local commodities sector as he seeks to boost productivity, expand market access, and increase value-added production.

Speaking about his vision for the sector, Hyatt, in a recent interview with the Jamaica Observer, said the short- to medium-term goal is to position Jamaica’s commodities sector for sustained annual growth of between 25 and 30 per cent over the next five years.

“While this is an ambitious target, it provides a clear direction for the industry and signals confidence to farmers, processors, exporters and investors,” he stated.

He said that while achieving that level of expansion will require a coordinated push to increase production, the entity as regulator will actively play its part in strengthening the agricultural value chain as it preserves Jamaica’s reputation for premium commodities.

“As production grows, JACRA will also remain steadfast in maintaining the robust regulatory standards that protect the quality and reputation of Jamaican agricultural commodities,” Hyatt noted.

Hyatt, who assumed office on June 22 — following the departure of Acting Director General Wayne Hunter who served in the role for the last three years — said that a key pillar of his strategy will also focus on expanding value-added production so that Jamaica can export more finished products instead of raw commodities.

JACRA Director General Everett Hyatt is targeting annual growth of up to 30 per cent for the local agricultural commodities sector.

“We want to encourage greater value-added production. By moving further up the value chain we can help create opportunities for farmers and processors to earn better returns, while enhancing the competitiveness of Jamaican prized agricultural commodities locally and internationally,” he said.

He also plans to deepen JACRA’s engagement with farmers and industry stakeholders, citing stronger partnerships as being essential to unlocking higher levels of production.

“We want to have more meaningful dialogue to better understand the challenges commodities farmers face, and identify practical ways the authority can support them,” Hyatt said.

Established in 2018 under the Ministry of Agriculture, JACRA regulates, promotes, standardises and develops Jamaica’s agricultural commodities industry, including coffee, cocoa, coconut, nutmeg, pimento, ginger and turmeric.

As the authority seeks to build out stronger value chains across each crop area, Hyatt said that for spice crops such as ginger and turmeric, the authority will focus on expanding access to clean planting material, strengthening technical support, and improving market linkages.

“When producers have confidence that there is a market for their products they are far more willing to invest in expanding production,” he noted.

Another priority under his leadership, he said, will also be a renewed focus on increasing the number of farmers registered with JACRA, which he believes will enable the authority to better target technical assistance and industry support.

“Registration allows us to better understand the needs of the sector, target resources more effectively, and provide timely technical assistance through our extension services,” he said.

Improving traceability will also be another area of major focus, as international buyers increasingly demand greater transparency regarding the origin of agricultural products.

“Consumers around the world increasingly want to know where their products come from, and robust traceability systems help to protect the authenticity and reputation of Jamaican commodities while opening doors to premium international markets,” Hyatt said, while noting that technology and innovation, among other areas, are to feature prominently in JACRA’s new growth agenda.

“We need to embrace technologies and production methods that improve productivity, enhance efficiency, and build resilience while protecting our natural resources,” he said.

The new director general — bringing more than three decades of experience in agriculture, agribusiness, academia and public administration to role — is expected to further strengthen JACRA’s regulatory oversight while advancing initiatives to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of the local agricultural commodities sector.

“Our ultimate objective is to ensure that Jamaica continues to compete successfully on the global stage while creating greater opportunities and improved livelihoods for our farmers and industry stakeholders,” Hyatt said of the outlook.

Everett Hyatt, director general of JACRA